Portable casting or molding machine



March 3, 1959 H. D. FORSYTH 2,875,498

' PORTABLE CASTING 0R MOLDING MACHINE Filed July .5, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 O; Q INVENTOR. Herbert D-F CQy ATTORNEYS H. D. FORSYTH PORTABLE CASTING 0R MOLDING MACHINE March a 1959 Filed July 5, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Herbert DLForsy 71,,

ATTORNEYS nited States Patent 2,875,498 PORTABLE CASTING R MOLDING MACHINE Herbert D. Forsyth, Belleville, Ill. Application July 3, 1953, Serial No. 365,959

2 Claims. (CI. 25-41) This invention relates to a casting or molding machine, and more particularly to a portable casting. or molding machine which can be readilymoved from place to place as desired.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable casting or molding machine which will automatically and continuously form a plurality of building blocks or the like, there being a mechanism for applying suitable coloring to the molding material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a casting machine which will eliminate waste of material and wherein wasting of material is eliminated so that a uniform product can be produced. A further object of the invention is to provide a portable casting machine which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the machine, constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top'plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the machine.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the color container.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the mortar container or housing.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 -6 of Figure 4. g

' Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Referringin' detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a frame and the frame includes a pair of spaced parallel beams 11. Secured to the beams 11 are braces 12 and 14, and these braces provide a support for a horizontally disposed axle 15 which has a pair of ground engaging wheels 16 thereon. Thus, the machine can be moved from place to place as desired.

' Depending from the rear ends of the beams 11 and secured thereto is a pair of vertically'disposed bars 17, and horizontally disposed arms 18 are secured to the bars 17. The arms 18 provide a support for a horizontally disposed platform 19, Figure l, and a motor 20 is mounted on the platform 19. The motor 20 may be a gasoline driven engine.

' Driven by the motor 20 is a shaft 21, and a clutch 22 is provided for controlling actuation'of the shaft 21. For actuating the clutch 22, a link 23 extends from the clutch 22 to an elongated rod 24, and a hand grip 25 is arranged on the front end of the rod 24 for controlling actuation of the clutch. A driven shaft 26 is rotatably supported beneath the frame 10, and an endless chain 28 serves to connect the drive shaft 21'to the driven shaft 26. The driven shaft 26 serves to rotate a conveyor 27 for a purpose to. be laterdescribed. Q

The conveyor 27 includes an endless chain or belt 29 and secured to the chain 29 is a plurality of spaced parallel pusher fingers 30. The chain 29 is trained over a sprocket 31 mounted on a stub shaft 32, Figure 1. One of the pans or molds is indicated by the numeral 33, and one of the molds 33 is adapted to be positioned between each pair of fingers 30. Thus, as the conveyor 27 is actuated or caused to rotate in a clockwise direction the pans or molds 33 will be moved from front to rear along the machine.

Rotatably mounted on the front end of the machine is a roll of wax paper 34, and the wax paper 34 is adapted to be cut in sheets so that it can be placed within the pan or mold 33 before the mortar is dispensed into the mold. The roll 34 may be rotatably supported by means of an axle 35, and a cutter 36 is provided for facilitating the cutting of the wax paper 37 into the desired lengths. The cutter 36 may be operated by the persons foot when pressure is exerted on a foot pedal 38, Figure 2. The foot pedal 38 is pivotally connected to uprights 40, Figure 1, by pivot pins 39, and a coil spring 42 is arranged below the foot pedal 38. The foot pedal 38 is connected to a link 41 which may be secured to a rod 43 that extends upwardly into engagement with the cutter 36. Thus, by applying downward pressure on the food pedal 38 the cutter 36 can be caused to cut the wax paper 37 from the roll 34 to any desired length. I

Extending forwardly from the machine is a trailer hitch 44, and the hitch.44 may be attached to any suitable towing vehicle so that the machine can be moved to any desired location. A pair of vertically disposed spaced parallel guard members 45 extend upwardly from the beams 11 and are secured thereto, and the guard members 45 are arranged adjacent the front end of the machine. Each of the beams 11 has a plurality of rollers 46 journaled therein so as to rotatably support the molds 33 as they move along the frame. A tank 56 is arranged adjacent the motor 20 for holding fuel such as gasoline. Mounted on the rear end of the frame is a housing 47 which is adapted to contain a quantity of mortar or concrete therein which is to be dispensed into the moving pans or molds 33 so that when the mortar hardens bricks, building blocks and the like will be formed. There is further supported on the frame a container 48 for holding coloring matter whereby the mortar or building blocks can be colored or tinted asdesired. The color container 48 is provided with a plurality of radially extending partitions 49 which define compartments therein, Figure 6, whereby a plurality ofdiiferent colors can be arranged in each of the compartments. A shaft 50 may be secured to the rotating container 48 so that as the shaft 50 rotates the container 48will rotate therewith. For rotating the shaft 50, a gear wheel 51 is mounted thereon,

and a rod 52 has one end arranged contiguous to the gear,

wheel 51. The rod 52 is slidably or reciprocably mounted in a sleeve 54 which is secured to an upright 55 on the frame, and the frontend of the rod 52 is eccentrically connected to the sprocket 31 by means of a pin 53. Thus, as the conveyor 27 is actuated the sprocket 31 will rotate to thereby cause the rod 52 to reciprocate and selectively engage teeth on the, gear wheel 51 to rotate the shaft 50 and color container 48.

Arranged within each of the compartments in the color containerAS is a mixer 57, and each of the mixers 57 includes a shaft 58 having a. gear 59 on its outer end. A vertically shiftable shaft 60 is arranged exteriorly of the container 48, and the shaft 60 has a yoke 61 on its upper end, there being a shaft rotatably supported by the yoke 61.1 A bevel gear 62 is mounted on an end of the shaft 65, and the bevel gear 62 is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the gears 59 as the shaft 60 is raised. A roller 64 is journaled on the.

' were? lower end of the shaft 60, and the roller 64 is adapted to be engaged by the'moving pans or molds 33 to thereby raise the shaft 60 in the stationary bracket 63. After the mold 33 has passed, the parts will return to the position shown in Figure 3 by gravity sothat the mixers 57 will no't' 'be actuated until another mold comes into position. An endless chain 66 is trained over a sprocket on the 'drive shaft 21, and the chain 66 is also trained over a sprocket on the shaft 65 for rotating the shaft 65 to thereby rotate the mixers 57 when the shaft 60 is in'its raised position. A horizontally disposed screen 67 is arranged in the container 43 for insuring that no lumps f color matter are dispensed into the molds.

The mortar container 47 is shown in detail Figure l and arranged exteriorly of the housing or'contai'ner 47 is a vertically'disposed shaft 68 which has a gear 69 mounted thereon.'--'A "shaft70 is spaced from the shaft 68;andtheshaft 70'ext ends down" into the housing 47 for rotating lTliXel s 711" Awornrn is mounted on a shaft 73,"and the worm 72'n1eshes with the gear 69, the shaft 73 beingoperatively connected to the-drive shaft ZI'by a'chain and sprocket connection 74, Figure 2. The top end of the shaft 68 is connected tothe top end of the shaft 7tl"by a chain and sprocket mechanism 75. Braces 76 may be provided for helping to support the hOhSing 47 which remains stationary.

A means is provided for automatically dispensing color and mortarfrom the containers '48 and 47 into the moving holds 33 as the molds '33'are conveyed along by the conveyor 27. This means comprises trip members 77 and 78 which are engagdby the molds as the molds travel'along. The tripmember 77 actuates a valve to permit "color to be dispensed onto the mold from the container 48, and the tripmember 78 actuates a valve to permit mortar to be dispensed into the mold from the container 47. The trip member 77 is connected'to a rod or bracket which has a vertical portion 85, Figure 3, and extending from the vertical portion 85 is a horizontal portion 83 which terminates in a second verticalportion 82 which is connected toa shift ng plate 80. The shifting plate 88 is provided with an opening 81 which is adapted to register with one of a plurality of cut-outs r open n 79 i e t m Q th con ain 1 Th h h o nin s 7 and .81 t ain r i te the color f on of the-com ar m n w Pass er hr a onto the mold 2 2.therebelow The mold 33 actuates the trip and opens the valve in the bottom of the container 48 by engaging the trip member 77 to movethe plate 88 to the position shown in Eigurexl. A spring member 84 is provided ,for normally maintaining the valve in'the bottom of the container 48 in its closed position.

The valve for the mortarhousing 47 is actuated by a trip member 78 which has the same construction as the trip member 77. Thus, the trip member 78 is connected to 'a rod which includes a horizontal portion 85 and a vertical portion 87 which is connected to a slidably mountedplateSS on the bottom of thehousing 47. The plate 88 is provided with an opening 89 that is adapted to be moved'into and out of registrywith an opening 99 in the bottom of the housing 47. Thus, when the mold 33 engages the trip 78, the plate 88 will be shifted to the "position shown in Figure 5 so that the openings wand 90 will register whereby some of the mortar"'can pass therethrough and fall down onto the mold 33. I r

i A pan or stationary receptacle 9 may be arranged b low the ohtaih ffl t st chin r q i s a y excess color that rnay be dispensed.

rm .t s-.-f e hias. t s aprarent hat po table caste hgandmo d s .mash ne has PI PIQ dd wh c a be towedltoany desired location by attaching a towing vehicleto the trailer hitch ,44'. .The wheels to permit the machine to beipulled readily and in actualuse the trays .or 'niolds 33am 'positioned between the pair of '4 beams 11 on the frame 10. Then, by actuating the clutch -22 by means of the hand grip ZS the drivingmechanism can be actuated so that the conveyor 27 will cause the pans 33 to be carried from left to right as shown in Figure 1. As the pans 33 are carried along between the push fingers 30 on the conveyor 27, the trip lever 77 is first engaged so as to open the valve in the bottom of the container 48 whereby some of the color from the container 48 will be dispensed into the pan ormold 33. Initially, the pan 33 iscovered with astrip of wax paper from the roll 34 so asto'facili'tate the removal of the finished block from the mold. After the pan leaves the trip 77 the valve in the bottom of the "housing 48 will be automatically. closed by means Of the spring 84 and then the pan 33 will move along and engage the trip 78 to open the valve in the bottom of the housing 47 so that the proper quantity of mortar will be dispensed into the mo It wil be s en tha a h o the scn aih rs a d 4 h s an a tor ther nto m nta n t 1h t r' l pr r v as a dor' h xsdh d a ts t 'ea hea if 8' beneath the container 47 the valve in the bottoni container 47 will be automatically closed.

The wax paper on the roll 34 can becut toany desired length b'y means of the cutter an; The machine lof'ltlie, present invention can be used for on the job' use and is entirely portable and can be transported byany" vehicle having a trailer'hitch thereon. The rollers '46 support the moving pan 33 and themachine can be operated by e th 'v s o shah-" s 2 t e1 vt e" is covered with thin wax paper from the run 34 and then an even thin coat of color is dispensed f v the container 48 and then the mold is tiled with the mortar from the container 47. In use the operator places the. mold 33 in place between the guards 45 and1pulls the Wax paper from the'insulated roll :34 and clips to the proper length by the cutter '36 which is controlled by the left foot. If the stone to be shaded, the clutch 22 can be actuated to cause some of the coloring material to be sprinkled into the mold as it moves along and the series of color canisters or compartments within the container 48 dispense color into th e mold. A suitable brush may be arranged on the machine for: cleaning the molds as they move. The color is distributed evenly from the rotating housing 48 and the screen 67 insures that no lumps will be dispensed. The mortar from the container 47 is also evenly distributed as the mold passes therebelow and after the mold passes ,from beneath the container 47 the mortar dispensing slot becomes closed.

The roll of wax paper 34 may be insulated so that adverse weather conditions will not cause the wax paper to stick and the automatic dispensing of color will-insure that no color will be wasted. Further, the work can be done in less time and with less effort than if the casting were done by hand, and the finished product will be of high quality. The parts can be made-in any de sired size or shape.

I claim:

1. A portable casting machine comprising a frame including a pair of horizontally disposed spaced parallel beams,-ground-engaging wheels for supporting saidframe, a pair of vertically disposed bars depending fromtthe rear of said beams and securedthereto,horizontally disposed arms secured to said bars, a platform supported by said arms, a motor supported rearwardly'of said wheels on therebetween molding pans, a pair of spaced .parallell vertically disposed guard members extending upwardly from said beams and secured thereto, a roll of wax paper supported on said frame adjacent said guard members, a foot operated cutter for selectively cutting the wax paper into sheets to be placed in the molding pans, a container supported by said frame for holding a quantity of coloring material, a housing spaced from said container for holding mortar, means for automatically discharging color and mortar into the pans, rollers journalled in said beams for supporting said moving pans, agitators arranged in said container and housing, and a manually operable clutch means for controlling actuation of said drive shaft.

2. In a portable casting machine, a frame including a pair of horizontally disposed spaced parallel beams, ground engaging wheels for supporting said frame, a pair. of vertically disposed bars depending from the rear of said beams and secured thereto, horizontally disposed arms secured to said bars, a platform supported by said arms, a motor supported rearwardly of said wheels on said platform, a hitch extending forwardly from said frame and adapted to be attached to a towing vehicle, a drive shaft extending from said motor, manually oper able clutch means for controlling actuation of said drive shaft, a driven shaft spaced from said drive shaft, chain and sprocket means connecting said drive and driven shafts together, a stub shaft spaced from said driven shaft, a sprocket mounted on each of said driven and stub shafts, an endless chain trained over said sprockets, a plurality of spaced parallel fingers extending from said chain and adapted to receive therebetween molding pans, a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed guard members extending upwardly from said beams and secured thereto, a plurality of rollers journaled on each of said beams for rotatably supporting said pans, a housing mounted on the rear of said frame for holding mortar, a container supported on said frame for holding coloring matter and said container being provided with a plurality of radially extending partitions defining compartments therebetween, means connecting said conveyor to said container for rotating said container as said conveyor is actuated, a mixer arranged in each of said compartments, means actuated by the movement of said pans for rotating said mixers, a horizontally disposed screen arranged in said container intermediate the ends thereof, valve means for automatically dispensing color and mortar from the housing and container as the pans are moved along by said conveyor, and a stationary receptacle arranged below said container for receiving excess color that may be dispensed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 712,841 Parmley Nov. 4, 1902 805,702 Baggaley Nov. 28, 1905 896,914 Hough Aug. 25, 1908 1,003,322 Bender Sept. 12, 1911 1,377,188 Domine May 10, 1921 1,559,498 Brandell Oct. 27, 1925 1,559,499 Brandell Oct. 27, 1925 1,603,917 Johnston Oct. 19, 1926 1,619,489 Schwarz et a1. Mar. 1, 1927 1,872,521 Stuckey Aug. 16, 1932 1,899,974 Mooney Mar. 7, 1933 1,929,301 Batcheller Oct. 3, 1933 2,443,683 Lang June 22, 1948 2,492,297 Lagarde Dec. 27, 1949 2,734,249 Willis Feb. 14, 1956 

